Oil Tank Sweep in Somerset County, NJ

Why Are There Oil Tanks in Somerset County?

Decades ago, Somerset County property owners would install underground heating oil tanks. This contained fuel that was utilized to heat their homes during the winter. It was traditionally buried underground to hide it’s existence and keep the surface of the lawn looking good. However, as technologies have developed, these underground oil tanks have become obsolete.

As these tanks have become useless to modern heating technology, they typically aren’t removed from the ground. This can be a large cost to the property owner. Instead, tanks are either left decommissioned or abandoned. Decommissioned is a process in which the tank is permanently sealed and filled with a slurry to prevent any sort of leakage of the oil remains into the soil. 

What Are The Dangers Of An Abandoned Oil Tank?

As you’ve learned, some Somerset County homeowners left their underground oil tanks abandoned instead of properly decommissioning them. In New Jersey, this can lead to a plethora of problems later down the road. There are various factors that can affect whether or not an oil tank will or is leaking. These include:

• Mechanical Failure
• Age of Tank
• Improper Installation
• Corrosion Of Materials

When an oil leak does occur, it can be disastrous. The oil can contaminate the soil around the tank, groundwater, and any other water sources in the vicinity. If a leak is detected after you own the property, it could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in environmental cleanup and tank removal fees. This is the main reason why it’s important that you schedule an oil tank sweep in Somerset County NJ to determine if there is a tank underground.

What Is An Oil Tank Sweep?

Now, since you know the importance of an oil tank sweep in Somerset County, you’re probably wondering how this sweep is performed. You’ll need to give a specialized company a call, such as ATS to bring in their detection equipment.

This specialized equipment is utilized above the surface and scans below ground to determine if there are any structures underneath the ground. If a potential oil tank is detected under the ground, the technician will investigate further. This may include taking soil samples to test.

Reasons To Have An Oil Tank Search Performed in Somerset County

If you’re considering purchasing a new property, then you need to be sure that there’s no abandoned oil tanks underground. These types of tanks can lead to large financial liability problems in the future. Here are some of the biggest reasons that you may also want to consider an oil tank sweep in Somerset County NJ:

Mortgage Requirement

Many mortgage lenders know the extent of financial liability that can happen when a leaky underground oil tank is discovered. It could threaten the value of the property. Therefore, most will require that you have an oil tank scan performed prior to getting approved for the mortgage.

You May Not Be Eligible For Insurance

Just as mortgage lenders know that leaky oil tanks can be a big financial pitfall, so do insurance companies. Many won’t cover your property if you don’t first have an oil tank sweep performed. So, even if you can get away without one from the mortgage lender, you’ll likely need one to get insurance coverage on the property itself.

It Could Tank Your Property Value

There’s nothing worse than paying a boatload of money for your house to find out that there’s an abandoned oil tank that is leaking into the property. This is information that must be disclosed during any future dealings of the property. Any potential buyer that is told about a leaky oil tank will drastically reduce their offer on your home or may not even put in an offer anymore.

Health Concerns

Oil is known to contain carcinogens. The vapor that is left off by the oil can create numerous health problems. These include nausea, respiratory diseases, and vomiting.

Liability Issue

Once you purchase a property in Somerset County, you become responsible for it. When a leaky abandoned underground heating oil tank is detected on your property, then you’ll be responsible for dealing with the environmental hazard. This means you’re going to be liable for cleanup, soil testing, damages, and any other lawsuits caused by the leaking of the oil.

Where Can ATS Perform Oil Tank Sweeps?

ATS performs oil tank scans all across the great state of New Jersey. If you’re looking to invest in a property located within Somerset County, we’ve got you covered. We do oil tank sweeps in Somerville, Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Boundbrook, Branchburg, Bradley Gardens, Clyde, Far Hills, Franklin Center, Harlingen, Manville, Montgomery, Millstone, North Plainfield, Pleasant Plains, Raritan, Rocky Hill, South Bound Brook, Ten Mile Run, Watchung, Warren and others.

If you’re considering the purchase of a new property, hopefully, you’ve learned the importance of having an oil tank scan performed. To do so, simply give our office a call. We can typically send out a technician either the same day or the next day to perform the scan. We’ll scan all properties located in and around Somerset County, NJ, and will provide you with a completed report before we leave.